Zeolite Catalyst for Lignin to Phenol Conversion

Abstract

A method for converting lignin to a phenol product, the method comprising contacting a zeolite catalyst with a lignin under reaction conditions sufficient to produce the phenol product at a yield of equal to or greater than about 50%. A method for converting lignin to a mixed phenol product, the method comprising contacting a large-pore zeolite catalyst with a Kraft lignin under reaction conditions comprising a reaction temperature of from about 550° C. to about 850° C. to produce the mixed phenol product at a yield of equal to or greater than about 50%.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for converting lignin to a phenol product, the method comprising contacting a zeolite catalyst with a lignin under reaction conditions sufficient to produce the phenol product at a yield of equal to or greater than about 50%. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lignin comprises Kraft lignin, Organosolv lignin, lignosulfonate lignin, steam explosion lignin, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lignin comprises Kraft lignin. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lignin is pretreated with an acid prior to contact with the zeolite catalyst. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the acid comprises hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfonic acid, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the acid pretreatment comprises contacting lignin with acid in an amount ranging from about 0.01 g acid/g lignin to about 0.22 g acid/g lignin at a temperature ranging from about 20° C. to about 70° C. for a time period of from about 2 hours to about 12 hours. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the zeolite catalyst has a pore opening diameter of from about 5 Å to about 10 Å. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the zeolite catalyst has a particle size of from about 0.05 μm to about 2 μm. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the zeolite catalyst comprises ZSM-5, ZSM-11, ZSM-23, Silicalite, Mordenite, zeolite Beta, Zeolite-L, Zeolite X and Y, faujasite, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the zeolite catalyst has a silia:alumina ratio of from about 5 to about 80. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein reaction conditions sufficient to produce the phenol product comprise a reaction temperature of from about 550° C. to about 850° C. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising recovering the phenol product. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the recovered phenol product is further processed to produce a petrochemical. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the recovered phenol product is further processed to produce a polymer. 
     
     
         15 . A method for converting lignin to a mixed phenol product, the method comprising contacting a large-pore zeolite catalyst with a Kraft lignin under reaction conditions comprising a reaction temperature of from about 550° C. to about 850° C. to produce the mixed phenol product at a yield of equal to or greater than about 50%. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the large-pore zeolite catalyst has a pore opening diameter of from about 7 Å to about 10 Å. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the large-pore zeolite catalyst comprises faujasite, zeolite Beta, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the zeolite catalyst has a silia:alumina ratio of from about 5 to about 80. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the lignin is pretreated with hydrochloric acid prior to contact with the large pore zeolite catalyst. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising recovering the mixed phenol product.